Ø Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. Secretary
of Defence Chuck Hagel discussed strategic geopolitical issues, including the
deteriorating situation in Iraq and the post-poll deadlock in Afghanistan,
while agreeing to increase cooperation in the Indian Ocean and the wider
Asia-Pacific region. Mr. Hagel said the U.S. wanted to be a partner in India’s
military modernisation and recognised India’s need to strengthen its
defence-industrial base. Mr. Hagel met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley. Delegation-level talks between the two sides,
agreed to renew the Indo-U.S. defence framework agreement before it expired in
July 2015. Mr. Modi said he looked forward to his U.S. visit.
Ø A Delhi court convicted Sher Singh Rana for
the murder of Phoolan Devi, MP and ex-dacoit, here in 2001. She was shot five
times outside her official residence on 44 Ashoka Road.
Ø BOOK: “Strictly
personal” By Daman Singh daughter of
Manmohan Singh. The book is biography of Dr. Manmohan Singh
Ø Despite their continued absence from the Rajya
Sabha, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and actor Rekha, cannot be disqualified as
they have not violated any rule, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said on Friday.
They were nominated in April 2012. Since then, Mr. Tendulkar has attended the
House only on three days. Ms. Rekha has attended the House on seven days, the
most recent being February 19, 2014.
Ø Uttar Pradesh Governor and former Union
Minister Ram Naik took oath as the acting Governor of Rajasthan.
Ø Scientists have reported a new fish species and
rediscovered a rare tree, turning the spotlight on the rich, unexplored
biodiversity of the Western Ghats. While the new species of freshwater
fish was reported from the Kabani river in Wayanad, Kerala, by a researcher,
the rare tree was rediscovered from the Muthikulam High Value Biodiversity Area
by a team of scientists from the Centre for Medicinal Plants Research (CMPR),
Arya Vaidyasala, Kottakkal, and the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur.
Named Pristolepis
pentacantha ,
the new fish species was discovered by Mathews Plamoottil, Assistant Professor
in Zoology at the Government College, Chavara, Kollam, from Bavali, near the
Karnataka border, in January 2012. Based on scientific studies and comparison
with other fishes of the same species found in Kerala, it was found that Pristolepis
pentacantha was
a new species.
 |
| Ebola virus outbreak |
Ø The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared
the Ebola
virus disease outbreak in West Africa
a public health emergency. The decision was
taken after the first meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the
Director-General under the International Health Regulations on the disease,
according to a statement.
Ø Even as the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha
demanded an all-party meeting on the UPSC row in this session of Parliament,
the government on Friday said since the issues required “application of mind
and in depth study,” such a meeting would be convened after the preliminary
civil services examination scheduled on August 24.
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